Tenten, who was leaning against the headboard of her bed, was brushing the hair of Neji lovingly as the latter slept on her lap, exhausted from his six nights of aimless wandering in the skirts of the Leaf kingdom.
She was startled when he suddenly spoke up.
"Since time immemorial, the main family had always been the lucky ones in our clan. They didn't pay taxes, nor do they have to work for anything in life. The branch family always supplies their needs, financially, so to speak. We, the branch family, do not have the right to possess our own territories and properties because all our efforts and wealth must be dedicated to the glory of the traditional supreme Hyuuga name-bearers, specifically, the clan prince or princess," began the earl, his eyes on the ceiling, yet his mind somewhere in the past. "My father though, was displeased by this set-up, and he hated Hinata-sama's father for that. My mother though, was more submissive to tradition. She often tells me the family legends…how the Hyuuga main family, through the years, was able to protect our clan honor with their blood spilled on the ground. She told me about the role of the main family in defeating the devil serpent. She talks about them with such high esteem, that in one of our talks, she asked me to always look after the newly-born clan princess, especially since prophecies say that she is the one who will bring true greatness to our already illustrious clan name."
"On the clan princess' third birthday, I felt my first humiliation in the hands of the main family." He narrated to her how he was thrown out of the Main Family mansion mercilessly, and how he was leered and laughed at cruelly afterwards. "But it's not them that brought real pain. When Father learned about my trip to the birthday of the clan princess, I was locked inside the cabinet for hours, unfed. He told me that my worst suffering is not enough to lighten the stigma I gave the name of the branch family forefathers. I endured it, but not what he did to my mother when he discovered that Mother asked me to go there."
Neji's breathing grew harsher, and for a moment, Tenten wanted to cry out and stop him from remembering any more of his painful past, but she knew that she had no right. This was the first time that Hyuuga Neji was coming into terms with the things that he had tried running away from all these years, concealing them in his smirks and false bravado. She did the only thing she could for him at this moment—she held his hand reassuringly.
This made the earl calm down a little, but tension still hadn't left him. "I was inside the locked cabinet, hearing the sound of furniture being turned over, and the booming voice of Father cursing her. I could hear my mother's sobbing cry begging him to let her son go, and her gasps of pains afterwards. No matter how hard I tried to push the cabinet doors open, my strength was not enough. In the end, I succumbed to numbness, hating myself and the main family more and more. I was too weak…my weakness failed to protect the person I cherish and love so much."
"The door opened hours later, by people I do not know. My mother was on the floor, unmoving and almost lifeless, as my father stood by the window, looking withdrawn. Hours later, he killed himself." Neji felt his chest constrict. "He was the first person I saw that succumbed so pathetically to weakness. Even my mother is stronger than that—she survived. She never begged for herself—it was only me whom she cared for."
"N-Neji…"
"My mother didn't live long after that incident. When we had to bury her, the Main family refused to have her remains lay on the grounds of Hyuuga, because it was only Father who carried the blood of the clan. We in the branch family were forced to cremate her remains."
Tenten's eyes filled with tears. She could feel every stab of anguish in Hyuuga Neji as if each was her own.
"If the main family didn't exist, then both of my parents would still be alive." Neji shut his eyes tight, feeling the rush of blood pounding in his ears. "That's why I vowed revenge. That's why I wanted the clan princess to die in my own hands. But in the end…" He sighed audibly. "In the end, my weakness defeated my purpose again. I had every chance to kill Hinata-sama when she fainted, but I didn't. That's when I felt that I had lived in vain for the past years. In those six nights, I pondered on whether I should continue to live. I failed the branch family miserably. I failed my mother as well."
"Neji…" Her heart wrenched with his words. Who would have known that he bore a tainted past such as this, that was why he became what he was now?
"But I had to come back." He sat up and looked at her, his eyes speaking in volumes. "When I thought of one good reason not to end my existence the way my wretched father did, your face appeared in my mind."
"A-And you came back…" she whispered, a tear escaping from her eyes. "W-Why?"
"It's almost dawn, Tenten," he said gently, turning his eyes on the window. "You have to go back to your room now, or people might wonder what the mage is doing in her archenemy's room."
"Y-Yeah." She got up shakily. "N-Neji…"
He looked at her expectantly.
"T-Thank you…for coming back…for me," she whispered, smiling through her tears.
"And thank you for waiting…for me," he replied, voice gruff. "Witch."
"Asshole." She left the room, her feet barely touching the ground below her. He was back again, and he went back because of her. For that, she loved him more.
……………….
Chapter Twenty-Four
FINALLY!!! Submit New Chapter can function already! YAY! Anyway, I'm sorry again for one week of no updates. I would try to make up for it this chapter.
OK, story dedication: NuttyScribbler. I answered the call of sacred duty and updated as soon as I could. Happy reading, tomodachi!
Message time:
Orrie-chan = So did you have a safe trip home? He he, I hope the perverted brain of your Ate Syao didn't frighten you. My sis also added that she was surprised that you didn't complain on my anime-ish voice ehehehe.
h4t5uh4ru = Dinaan ni Neji sa bilis si Tenten, at ikaw, dinaan mo sa bilis ang basa. Nyehehe, every chapter nyan, may Neji/Ten kang aantabayanan, mala-telenovela. And don't worry, mahal ko rin po kau! [Sandara wave]
Sequ3stered = Wahaha! Thanks friend! I have a problem though…see, when I entertain Kakashi-in-speedos, Naruto-in-speedos complain that he doesn't get enough affection. With that, Shino-in-speedos would nudge me, take his shades off, and look at me with these BIG, CUTE, HEART MELTING puppy eyes. Like a chain reaction, Kabuto-in-speedos would take his eyeglasses off and look at me too with the same BIG, CUTE, HEART MELTING puppy eyes. As if that isn't enough, Itachi-in-speedos would look at me with BIG…okaaay, now that's scary -.-
Jiri = Ehehe, ask Google not me :p Nweiz, I'm glad you enjoyed the NejiTen scene! And oh yes, thanks for the site help!
Wormkaizer = Thanks for sharing those kawaii NaruHina images! I can't wait to have my own net at home so I can post your works already. I'm sure everyone will love them as much as I do!
Immortalrin = Had a nice weekend? Ü Yay, you were entertained by the chappie!!!
['] = I'm not sure if the underscores and shift6 can now be displayed correctly by , so I'm hoping (if it's ok) na bigyan mo me ng alpha-numerical name, oks lng b? He he, happy reading! Wag mo n lng basahin ung NejiTen omakes ko para solo mo c Neji-kun :D
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Reba = Yap, yap! He he, ikaw lng po nagsabi na lengthy ang chappies ko. Salamaaat! [hugs] Scroll down po kau sa omake, may NejiTen action den.
White witch = Hehe sowee at nahuli updates. Topak ang writer's block ko. Pero di bale, nalagpasan ko na at least :D At gusto mong bumalik c Shino-kun? May lihim kang pagnanasa din sa kanya, prend? Wakekekee! Ay about sa fanarts…baka kako gusto mo send mo na lang sa akin through airmail. Ako na lng ang magscan. Gusto ko lng talaga mapost ang fanarts mo para sa site eh. Please? Email me at send ko sau ang address ko. At cyangapla, halatang nde ka hyper hehe.
Mariel4000 = Wow, nde mo cnimulan sa Yay at tinapos sa Yay ang review mo! Haha, peace!
Never Eats Oranges = wai! Arigatou gozaimasu! I will do my best to keep you happy by updating as often as I could (although some of the animes u mentioned like DBZ, I'm currently having a hard time finishing; serious lack of inspiration ehehe)
Kawaii gurl-11 = I'm glad that you are starting to like other couples aside from NaruHina :D Tsaka nga pla, mas matutuwa ako kung Tagalog ang review. Pinoy pride and all!
TK-san = Wahahahah! Salamat at nag-enjoy ka sa NejiTen. Condolence sa modem mong sinipa :D
Fireblazie = Man, pano kita makakalimutan? MiroSan fan, ET fan, Yona Fan…friend, soulsisters tau sa anime pairings, ano ba!!! xD
………………………….
"So this is it… the last gambling house in the kingdom that we hadn't checked out yet," said Kiba, who also served as the driver of the carriage.
Sakura clasped her hands together, reciting a silent prayer that Tsunade-sama be found already in this place. She was inwardly puzzled though why they were searching gambling houses for one of the legendary Sannins.
"Bacchi Odds and Evens," read Rock Lee, who had the same thought running in his mind too. "Are you sure we have to take a look at this place?"
"Yep. My sources are very reliable." Kiba opened the carriage door to dutifully attend to the court lady.
"Lady Haruno, why don't you stay in the coach and let me and Inuzuka Kiba deal with this?" asked Lee, not exactly comfortable with the idea of the Lady Haruno Sakura entering such a dirty, sinful place.
Sakura shook her head vehemently. "What do you suppose would I do here? I'm going in there with you guys!" She jumped down from the carriage and looked at the edifice determinedly.
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Tenten, stretching, decided to check on Hinata already. She heard that the Lady Sakura had left the kingdom last night to find Tsunade-sama and have her treat her maid. She silently wished that the court lady had succeeded so Hinata would be safe already…and so Neji would be appeased already. Even if he wouldn't say it, she knew he was worried about his cousin's condition too.
She opened the door, just as the doorknob twist. She nearly collided with Neji, who seemed to have the intention of opening the door too.
For a moment, they were just gazing at each other, not knowing how to react after what happened last night.
But she was not born yesterday not to know what his eyes were saying: he wanted to kiss her good morning, never mind if it would be too passionate a friendly morning greeting.
"I…was just trying out the doorknob if it's working," he said.
"U-Uh-huh. It's working fine," she replied, unable to take her eyes off him.
"Y-Yes, I can see that."
"And now what?"
"Hell!" He cupped her face and kissed her hungrily. She closed her eyes, immediately forgetting their circumstances.
When they parted, she was stunned to see him smiling. Smiling not smirking, and she felt that she was looking at him for the first time ever. He seemed so relaxed, so young, that it was hard to stop her heart from palpitating.
"Good morning, witch."
"Good morning too, asshole Earl Hyuuga Neji."
"Breakfast?" he offered.
"What about it?" she asked, unable to resist the teasing in her voice.
His face slightly flushed. "You do have to eat, you know."
"Amen."
"Ahem."
The two looked up, startled. Ino was staring at them, a wicked smile on her lips. "So…good morning, you two."
"Good morning," mumbled Tenten, pushing Neji away not-so-subtly.
"Have a great breakfast, you two." Another knowing wink, and the Yamanaka court lady walked away.
"Shit! SHIT!" hissed Tenten, wanting to bang her head against the wall.
"Tenten," said Neji. "What the hell is wrong now?"
She looked up at him, torn between blushing and crying in fury. "How could you ask so innocently? Now the whole kingdom will know about us!" She marched away, cupping her cheeks with her hands.
"And what the hell is wrong with that?" asked the earl, walking after her.
She faced him, exhaling sharply. "Listen, we kissed, right? Now why should two archenemies kiss each other?" She rubbed her forehead. "And we're not even under the mistletoe!"
He frowned. "You don't want to be seen with me, is that it?"
"NO!" she snapped. "Neji, they'll talk about us! We'll be the object of gossips and…and…" She cupped her hands together. "It won't be good for you. You are the Earl Hyuuga, and you have so many responsibilities…"
"How did my title get involved here? I want to kiss you, so what's wrong with that?"
"Drop it, Hyuuga Neji. Just PLEASE drop it." She remembered her initial mission again. She headed for Hinata's room. Neji paused, wondering what to do. However, he followed the mage all the same.
They both froze when they entered the door.
Naruto's head was placed over the side of Hinata's bed, his hand on Hinata's. He was still fast asleep, while Hinata was seated against the headboard, watching him with much fondness in her eyes.
The two didn't know which shocked them more—that Uzumaki Naruto was home at last, or Hinata was awake at last.
Tenten though, had a more concrete opinion on that. She swiftly made her way towards the boy and slammed her fist on the lad's head.
"GAAAAH, THAT HURTS!!!"
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.
.
It was darkness and stench that welcomed Uchiha Sasuke when his consciousness returned. He struggled to get up, but he felt that his strength was depleted.
"Awake already, my Uchiha Sasuke?" drawled a voice from the blinding darkness.
"W-Who's there?" he asked, fighting away his panic that threatened to overwhelm him. Sakura! He remembered that he went with the Starlet, Iruka, to check on her, but someone attacked him from behind shortly after he evaded the attack of the Starlet.
Summoning Herculean strength, he got up, sensing the court lady's aura. Negative. "Sakura! Sakura, where are you?" he yelled.
Gentle mocking laughter from another direction. Yet the timbre of the voice sounded so painfully familiar, that when the answer hit him, his heart sank.
Yakushi Kabuto, the substitute physician of the Kingdom Leaf palace.
"Your Highness, don't you understand the circumstances yet?" He felt footsteps walk towards him, prompting him to quickly go to a defense taijutsu position. This elicited another round of laughter from around him, making him feel resolute anger form within him. He felt like a fool dancing in front of a one-way mirror—he couldn't see those who could see him—and he felt frustration.
The voice of Kabuto continued. "Lady Haruno is safe in her carriage with two of the renowned fighters of the kingdom: the head of your Royal Stable and the Earl Rock Lee. They are looking for Tsunade-sama so they could get the treatment the Lady Hinata needs."
Despite the situation, he felt a part of him sigh in relief. Sakura was safe and far away from these demons. He felt a thousand pounds heaved off from his shoulder.
"If I were you, my beloved Uchiha Sasuke, I won't celebrate yet." A flicker of light appeared in the corner, where a stand filled with snake parts were preserved, casting eerie shadows in the hollow cavern. His eyes quickly scanned the area, and he discovered two living creatures within the area. One was Kabuto, and the other one was seated calmly at a throne not too far away from his location.
Kabuto pushed the bridge of his glasses up. "The master has been meaning to meet you, Your Highness. The Uchiha clan is a powerful, prominent tribe, with fighters being one of the best in the continent. You, as one of the two living testimony of that reputation, are indeed a guest of honor of Master Orochimaru."
The name struck the prince' mind. "Orochimaru…" His eyes shook. "I-It can't be…"
The man seated on the throne cackled. "My, my, it seems my notoriety didn't go unnoticed even to the high and mighty ruler of the kingdom I hate the most." He got up and started towards the boy prince, who stepped back alertedly.
"The devil serpent that attempted to destroy the Leaf village, but was successfully sealed by the Fourth Hokage, with the help of my clan and the Hyuuga clan." Sasuke unconsciously took another step back. "Now you have returned, but you will fail again."
"Why would I?" asked Orochimaru, eyes glinting maliciously. One minute he was several feet away from him, and the next minute he felt something cold and slimy wrap around his neck. Sasuke tried to free himself from the man-serpent's grasp, but to no avail. His scarlet eyes sparked in fury.
Orochimaru laughed evilly. "Yes…those scarlet eyes that I envy so much…yet desire at the same time. Truly an Uchiha you are, my Sasuke."
"Bastard!" Sasuke used his flame technique, but Kabuto was quick enough to seal his mouth with his own chakra.
The devil serpent smiled, amused. "So weak…it's easy to crush you with the ball of my palms…but then again, it would be a shame to dispose of you so soon." He drew closer towards the prince's face. "So I would give you a little gift, Prince Uchiha."
Sasuke's eyes widened, and the fangs of the serpent were bared. They buried themselves on his neck, causing his scream of agony to fill the hollow abyss of the fissure.
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.
If there were gazes thrown her way, stating recognition, Sakura did her best to ignore them. She headed for the godfather of the house. "Hey you!"
The man turned to her, blinked, and then laughed mockingly. "Sorry girlie, but this isn't the candy house."
"Indeed," she snapped. "This is an Odds and Evens house, and by the power of my signature, I can have this business suspended indefinitely."
This made the old man pause, sensing how dead serious she was. "Alright, what do you want?"
"I want any information regarding the Tsunade-sama," she said, not even batting an eyelash. "She is a young woman with flaxen hair and a jewel on her forehead. She also wears the word 'gambler' on her back. Tsunade-sama of the Hidden Leaf kingdom."
For a moment, everyone in the gambling house was silenced, and Sakura instantly knew that they understood what great and legendary a person she was looking for.
Ten seconds later, she wasn't so sure anymore, for everyone had burst into maniacal laughter already. And for the life of her, she couldn't understand why everyone was chanting, 'Sucker!' over and over like a mantra.
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.
.
Ino threw her fan at the wall of the far corner of her room, disgusted. She couldn't concentrate on her lesson for subtle flirting with the aristocratic use of a paper fan, for one reason she didn't want to acknowledge, at least out loud.
Yet she couldn't cheat her mind and conscience.
And her heart. Mostly, her heart.
She tried to laugh carelessly. Of course, it was only but natural that guilt would eat her. After all, it had been only half a day since Shikamaru resigned and left, and she knew the reason for his sudden departing was her.
It was only but natural.
Her eyes unconsciously fell on the picture frame sitting on her study table. It was a winter shot identical to those resting on the own tables of her butlers. She smiled fondly when she looked at Shikamaru, who was yawning unabashedly in front of the camera.
"That's Shika for you," she whispered, laughing quietly. Her butler was too unaffected, and it was his nature, so although she would scold him about his laziness, deep inside her, she had already accepted this as his character, making him more endearing.
ENDEARING? Now where the hell did THAT come from?!
She shook her head vehemently. "Erase, erase, ERASE!!! Yamanaka Ino, what are you doing, thinking of him? He is not worth your thoughts! It's only Uchiha Sasuke…ONLY Uchiha Sasuke, you hear?"
"Oi Ino!" The door opened.
Her eyes widened, and she happily turned back. "Shika?"
Her face then fell. It was only her father, blinking back at her.
After a while, he spoke. "Did I miss something here?"
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.
.
"I heard you were looking for me."
The strong commanding tone of the female sent the whole room in a hush. Even Sakura could feel the air of tension as she heard the clicking of sandal soles on the polished wood-like finishing of the floor. She quietly turned around.
A fair-skinned woman who looked like in her early twenties was standing right behind her, the golden strands of her hair tossed behind her shoulders perfectly. She looked intimidating, but Sakura knew she could be pretty intimidating too. She squared her shoulders bravely and faced the woman, pasting a confident court smile on her face.
"Yes, Ma'am. You must be Tsunade-sama, right?" She pressed her hands together. "I am Lady Haruno, from the Hidden Leaf kingdom. We need your medical—"
That term made the woman's eyes turn sharp. She turned her back on the girl, and Sakura immediately followed her. "Please, Tsunade-sama, you must help us!"
"I have long resigned from the medical unit of the Leaf kingdom," she said firmly. "I thought you only wanted to play bets with me, that's why I entertained you."
"Tsunade-sama, please hear me out! If you don't come with me now, someone's going to die!" she exclaimed, pushing aside her courtly poise.
This made the woman pause. After a while, she sighed. "Alright, I will come with you, but only in one condition…"
Sakura looked at her expectantly.
"You must defeat me in a gambling bet."
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"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Tenten crossed her arms in front of her chest, glaring at Naruto. "Sleeping in a girl's room?!"
"But heck, I was tired!" Naruto complained, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Do you know that I practically ran a marathon from the mountains of the Hidden Leaf borders for hours just to get here?"
"Now I do, but I don't care!" snapped the mage. "It still is not a valid reason to sleep with an alone and unescorted girl." She turned her eyes at Hinata, who was looking down at the floor blushingly. "Did he do anything to you?"
"E-Eh?!" She shook her head vehemently. "O-Of course not, M-Miss Tenten!"
"Okaaay, if it would comfort you, here's what happened," said Naruto, rolling his eyes. "I was allowed by Kakashi-sensei to go down from the mountains so I could take a break, since he did say that all work and no play makes a man—"
"Gray?" finished the mage.
"Celibate, that's what he said."
The sorceress' face turned dark. "Sir Kakashi…"
The Uzumaki lad grinned. "Ah well, so I went home. On my way back, I even met that yeti over there." He acknowledged the earl with his thumb.
Both girls looked stunned.
"We talked," said Neji briefly.
Tenten's eyes went to the blackish-bluish circle on his eye, and she immediately knew who caused it. She smiled, shaking her head.
"However, it took me far longer to get here because I still secured some medicines for Hinata." His words implied that Neji must have informed him of the maid's condition. "I met a white-haired hermit on the way here, who directed me to a casino, saying that the medicines I need can be obtained from the woman there. In return, I gave him the remaining sandwich I have."
Tenten and Neji looked dazed, as if trying to make a connection from the marathon down the mountains to the casino woman.
"Now I faced the casino woman, but she only agreed to provide me the medicines I need if I would play a gambling bet with her. She told me that she would bet that I cannot solve her puzzle in three minutes." Naruto cupped his chin. "But I succeeded. So I brought the medicine home. However, I was only able to reach Leaf last night, so I wasn't able to announce my arrival. I gave Hinata the medicine, and the next morning, I was awaken by your uppercut."
Tenten rubbed her temples. "Wait, what was the puzzle that the woman asked you to solve in three minutes?"
He smiled mysteriously. "It's like this…"
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.
.
"I will bet that you cannot solve this puzzle in three minutes," said Tsunade, flipping her hair behind her shoulders. Sakura was seated across her, watching her draw a diagram of some kind, with pieces of colorful pegs on them.
Lee and Kiba looked on, along with the other gamblers of the Bacchi Odds and Evens.
The medicine woman finally finished setting the puzzle in place. "Listen well, young lady." She started pointing at the pegs. "The red one is Father, while the blue one is Mother. The two yellow pegs represent the brothers while the pink ones represent the sisters. On the other hand, this green one represents the Master while the orange one represents the mythical dragon leashed by the Master." She began to place them on the left side of the diagram she drew. "Now they live in an island after they were shipwrecked. However, food is scarce, so they need to move on to the next island." She pointed to the right side of the diagram. "They built a boat, and unfortunately it can carry only two people. Now there are only three people who know how to use the oars of the boat, and they had no time to teach the others how to paddle, because a storm is brewing and is about to swallow their island whole."
"Then the other island will get swallowed too! It's useless!" remarked Lee.
Tsunade glared at him. "The next island is anchored securely in the seabed."
"Whatever!"
"Anyway, how can you carry these people to the other island without anyone dying?" She held a finger up. "But there's a rule here: Father and Mother must stay together. If Father is left alone with his daughters, he would eat them. It is the same case with the Mother and sons."
"What about Fathers and sons or Mothers and daughters?" asked Kiba.
Tsunade nodded. "No one would get eaten. It's safe."
"I see," nodded Sakura. "What is the catch on the Master and
the Dragon?"
"That's another thing. The Master and the Dragon cannot be separated unless you
want the Dragon to unleash his wrath and eat every living thing around them."
Tsunade smiled. "Basically, those are the rules. Now start thinking. Your three
minutes start now."
Sakura's forehead creased.
………………….
To be continued (sorry for the short update—will do better next chapter)
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English Omake
Last Friday., I asked a friend to upload something for me—a sidefic to the Frog and the Princess. However, due to some circumstances beyond our control (namely, decided to play with the HTML tags of the documents), the fic didn't come out properly. For the benefit of those who weren't able to read, especially those Shino fans [I'm not the lone wistful Shino-shipper here, am I? He he], I post the fic again.
THE HEART OF THE GARDENER
A sidefic for The Frog and the Princess
"Excellent. You learn very fast, young man." Tsunade smiled wanly at the boy who was standing on the balcony, eyes on the distant hills where the Hidden Leaf palace stood. She had just finished inspecting the herbal potion he made.
"You came out just to tell me that?" he asked after a moment.
"Hmp. A snob like the Prince Sasuke, eh?" She leaned on the rail beside him, allowing the wind to play with the loose strands of her hair.
"No. I just asked."
"You look at the palace with much longing in your eyes," she said, turning to him. "I reckon that you left an important person there."
"My eyes?" he asked, pushing the bridge of his dark shades up his nose. "Absurd."
"Okaaay, with your gaze then." She crossed her arms. "That is quite puzzling, considering that when I first saw you, you struck me as the apathetic type."
He shrugged. "It's not that I'm apathetic. It's just that I don't care."
Tsunade smiled sardonically. "You still have to work harder to convince me."
Aburame Shino turned his gaze back at the hills. "It's true. I never really cared…" His hair danced along with the breeze. "Never really did…"
This is dedicated to TenTen Hyuuga and Ami-chan, who are both feeling for Shino-kun.
He watched quietly as his father, the clan leader, convened with the rest of the people that comprise the bug-using clan of the Leaf kingdom. They weren't aware of the extra presence of a young boy quietly hidden behind the bushes, listening to them.
"Master, some of our men had absconded to the side of the devil serpent already! And even with the Uchiha and the Hyuuga helping each other, the odds of their victory are still dim. We should defect to the side of the devil serpent!" wailed the head of the peacekeeping forces of their clan.
"Nonsense." The clan head calmly placed his hands in his pocket. "We were given life by the soil of Konoha, and thus, we must give back to the land what we have, even with our own blood. I do not care if our other people had chosen to forget that important fact, but I will remain here, fighting."
"We will all die!" wailed the men, who were already disheartened.
"I am not stopping you if you want to walk away," said his father, unfazed by the brewing opposition. "But I have decided that this is my last battle…my last fight. Accompanied or not, I intend to give my best in this crusade for Leaf kingdom." He proudly touched the emblazoned leaf symbol of his bandanna. "I intend to give my last breath in veneration of my beloved land."
The speech stunned the people before him. However, others were still skeptical.
"Your principles will not save your life, clan master. Rethink your decision. Without the Hokage, the Leaf is a virtual plaything in the hands of the devil serpent!" tried his adviser one last time.
"It takes more than a mouthful of air to live life, my friend. And I am just about to begin my real life."
Although affected by his father's speech, more than half of the clan was not stopped in laying down their arms in favor of the serpent. Left with measly twenty men, his father was left to face the battalions of Sound soldiers heading their way. It would only be a few hours before their sure death in the hands of the Sound warriors, and he decided to sit down with his father and talk with him.
"The Leaf kingdom doesn't know that our clan would be in the kingdom gates, attempting to stop the soldiers' entrance," he said quietly.
"Hmm?"
"That's what I heard," he continued. "If we die, no one will know."
"Fate's eyes are never closed, child, in the same way Destiny will always know." He looked at the lad intently. "Are you afraid of dying?"
"I'm just mad. We still have a choice. We can live. On the other hand, this battle we will face will lead to inevitable death." His fists clenched. "Win or lose, it would still be our lives that would be laid down, and we shall not be thanked for that. It's unfair…"
"There is more to life than what we are, young man." His old man smiled fondly at his surrounding. "And it's not unfair. In fact, I think life is very kind. It's not everyday that we are given a chance to die for our land, our precious home." He tossed a twig into the fire, and then smiled at him. "This is the most worthy battle of all, fighting for the one thing you cherish the most. You shall encounter a lot of battles in the future, son, because I can recognize the spirit of the warrior living in you. But you must never fail in the one fight that counts the most…protecting the things we value the most."
"Things that we cherish the most…" He looked up at the starless night skies, wondering what were the things in his life that resembled such. He failed to name one.
"You will understand what I mean when you grow older and more events start to happen in your life. I know you will, son. You have a good head upon your shoulders." With that, the man turned his attention back to manning his post.
He realized that he envied his father then—his father knew what he cherished, but he didn't. he couldn't think of anything worth protecting with his life.
And so he didn't understand.
Until the time when the Sound soldiers arrived, and their twenty men, including him, faced the swarms of armed men who were determined to seize the Leaf kingdom.
Their clan was able to keep up with the soldiers, but fatigue soon caught up with them. Hours later, they had to flee when they were down to some five men. His father was already injured, and was bleeding severely. He, on the other hand, could not feel his body parts anymore—they had grown numb in exhaustion and despair. They had failed, as expected, to drive away the Sound soldiers, but his father was not disillusioned. That, or his father was a very good actor.
As they struggled to reach the cliff, they were ambushed by foot soldiers from the Mist kingdom, killing the three men with him and his father. He took it upon himself to carry his father on his shoulders, vowing not to succumb to fatigue. He was a member of the clan, and he had the sacred responsibility to look after the clan leader.
His father.
After walking for several hours, they made it to the boundary of the Leaf palace. He knew that with the festive aura of the palace, it was evident that victory sided with the Hidden Leaf. He could never forget the blissful smile that broke in the haggard and suffering face of his father.
He won his greatest fight.
However, when he and his father tried to enter the palace, the guards warily asked them what their clan was. Upon learning that they were part of the bug-controlling clan that sided with the defeated devil serpent, he and his father were driven out in the woods, with the king's direct order to have them both assassinated.
In the dark skirts of the forest, they were beaten harshly like animals, and then were thrown in a salvage pit, both of them half-dead.
Death was imminent, and ironically, they died in the hands of the people they vowed to protect till the end.
Yet his father said nothing in rage or bitterness. His concern was on keeping his son alive.
"Listen to me, son. Every hour, we will both try to climb up an inch. Do not close your eyes. Do not ever close your eyes. You will face this fight like a man of our clan," his father repeated to him over and over, and he weakly obeyed him, clawing their way up the suffocating hollow pit.
Every hour seemed like days in their badly violated bodies, but he remained breathing. His father quenched his thirst and hunger with his own blood by scraping his wrist with a sharp rock. His solid body supported his young form when he wanted to fall back and rest from their trek up.
One day, he couldn't stop himself from asking anymore.
"Father, why must we struggle to live? We lost in that important fight. The kingdom disowned us," he said, much anger in his voice. "The thing you cherish the most is lost!"
And he smiled wearily. "What are you talking about? You are still here, are you not?"
He gasped, eyes wide.
"You are alive, and that is the most important thing to me." The words resounded in his young heart, giving him renewed courage and strength,
Three days later, he surfaced from the deep salvage pit, five meters under the grass of the Konoha forest.
Alone.
His father had dropped down in the abyss hours ago, when he saw the vacant eyes of his old man who nary had air in his lungs and had died lodging himself in between the sharp rocks to serve as a cushion to his son's body. Not wanting to see the suffering on his father's face anymore, he gently pushed his body down, with a vow that he would not die in vain.
He would live.
He would live to fight for the most important thing to him at that moment.
Revenge against the Leaf kingdom for obliterating his whole clan.
So when he was approached by the Sound spy Yakushi Kabuto, he had no second thoughts.
He cooperated with the devil serpent, even if it meant going against the principles of his father.
He wanted to see the Leaf suffer. Greatly.
.
.
.
"You have a new assignment, Aburame Shino." Kabuto smiled in satisfaction at the quick, clean wiping out of the Leaf foot soldiers. The Sound soldiers quickly took the place of the assassinated Leaf patrolmen.
He silently got up, done with washing his hands from blood in the nearby river.
"You were given this special task because he was pleased with your impressive performance and combat skills," continued the man smilingly.
"What is this special assignment?" he asked curtly. He didn't like this man too much. He reminded him of animals much more dangerous than anacondas, much more traitorous than cobras. He smelled of malevolence.
"The master learned that the Hyuuga princess had arrived in the palace. He wanted her as a toy, along with the Uchiha prince, so he decided that you would be in charge of the clan princess."
"Hyuuga." One of the clans that enjoyed the false fame of the much celebrated victory of Leaf over the serpent years ago.
Instantly, anger resurfaced within his passive heart. The heart he had kept buried deep within him.
Kabuto seemed to enjoy the first spark of emotion from him ever since they had met. "Interested then?"
"I will meet the clan princess then."
.
.
.
He thought he was prepared for the greatest of all enemies, but he was certainly not ready for Hyuuga Hinata.
The first time Kabuto pointed out the prey, he felt something within him react, which was abnormal. It wasn't hate. It wasn't even dislike.
It seemed to be fondness.
No, it WAS fondness.
At first glance, she looked so fragile, so easily broken. Her vulnerability had made something within him crumble, which was the first time that something like this happened in his existence.
Yet when she smiles, she could make even midnight light up.
Heaven knew how many times he felt like cursing himself whenever he would lose control of himself whenever she comes up to him occasionally, a shy smile on her face as she offered him cookies, or simply greeted him good evening. Sometimes, she would inquire about the roses which she use to replace the vase of her Mistress Haruno Sakura regularly. And he would find himself roving the garden for the best of his blooms. He secretly wanted only the best only for her.
He would find himself thinking of the timid little maid while he was tending the bougainvilleas, or looking at the platter docks floating gracefully on the blue-green waters of the garden pond.
It was absurd, he knew, but for the first time in his life, he found himself disobeying his rationale.
Thus, he did his best to maintain the gap between them, willing himself to treat her the way he treated his past targets before.
He neither liked, nor hated.
It was all a job.
But Hyuuga Hinata was impossible.
.
.
.
"A-Anou…coffee!"
Her flushed expression took him by surprise. Pleasant surprise, especially when she struggled to rein her words that seemed to burst out like the gentle winter sunlight showering them. "I-I mean, I-if you want……I made coffee. I-If you want to drink, then…"
He gazed at her, somewhat fascinated by how winter and his roses seemed to fade into insignificance with her simple innocent grace.
When he saw worry cross her face, he realized what made her so.
"I don't like it sugary," he shrugged.
"I-I haven't stirred the sugar in yet…"
"I will have a cup then."
He could find no words to describe how her face lit up in excitement, especially when she hurriedly poured him a cup of straight black coffee. She then started to ask about the flowers, which he answered with some hesitation. He was not liking the warmth slowly creeping in his heart, which he knew was not anymore the effect of the morning cup of coffee.
"It's better if you look at them at night. They bloom best in that time," he said, pocketing his hands into his pockets. "Until midday, that is." He was referring to the water lilies, but he was secretly thinking of her too, when he would steal glances of her at night, when she would be by the bedroom window, looking out at the night pensively, unconscious of the wistful gaze of a gardener beneath the second floor window.
"I see…" Sadness crossed her angelic face, making him pause. He was not liking again how she could easily affect him. Only one person was capable of doing that.
He immediately shoved away that fragment of the past he was struggling to forget. He sipped his coffee one more time and the returned the empty cup to her. "Here." And he knew that this was his best straight black coffee ever. "You better go in. The morning is too chilly." He silently winced when he felt the concern he was desperately holding back all this time surface in his sentence.
She gratefully took it. The empty cup. "Thank you for telling me about the lily flowers," she said smilingly.
He was too overwhelmed, but he managed to nod briefly. "The best coffee is still straight black. It is very bitter, but in the end, it's the only thing that will really keep you up in your toes."
That seemed to startle her for a moment, and then she recovered. Gratitude showed in the shy smile she offered him. "I agree," she said softly. And he knew that she understood the unspoken message he gave her.
.
.
.
"You're losing your touch."
Kabuto's mocking voice was the last thing he wanted to hear in this chilly winter night, but he would be an utter fool to voice his silent opinion out.
"I'm just being careful," he decided to say, to remain in
the safe side. "She's awfully close to this boy…"
"Uzumaki Naruto?" The physician smirked. "Jealous?"
He wasn't able to stop himself from glaring at the spy lethally. And worse, Yakushi Kabuto seemed to have expected his reaction. This made him laugh some more, heavy sarcasm dripping in his voice.
"Who would have thought that it would only take a measly mouse to worm those angry emotions out of you?" Kabuto clicked his tongue. "I warned you already, boy. You wouldn't want to cross the path of Master Orochimaru."
"I'm not crossing anyone's path," he said quietly, fighting for his composure. He mustn't let himself run away with his emotions. In the end, it would be him who would lose if he would be reckless.
"Back in control of the reins of your sensibilities, eh?" said the spy, laughing. "Anyway, you have one last chance to prove that you are still reliable in executing the plans of Master Orochimaru. My eyes are on you, boy." With that, the physician walked away, humming.
.
.
.
Aburame Shino straightened when he heard the footsteps behind him. He dropped his weedcutter and turned his attention to gathering the mass of wild plants into his drum.
"You're not yet finished with the chore?" At first glance, the question may seem so innocently pertaining to his gardening job. But Shino knew better. After all, he was talking to one of the most formidable spies in the underground of the ten kingdoms.
"The mist." It was enough for him to get across the message to the man standing beside him.
"What is the lily flower doing there without protection?" The man crossed his arms. "And you were supposed to be the gardener."
Shino's frown deepened. "You are not ordering me now, are you?"
"No, I was stating facts." The man knelt down beside him, shaking his head. "Remember our bargain. The Court of Aburame awaits when the Hidden Leaf kingdom collapses," he whispered into his ear, audible enough only for him and his insects to hear.
The man was long gone, but the gardener was still staring off at space, particularly on the lily flowers that floated aimlessly on the pond.
Water Lily. The flower that symbolized the purity of the heart.
"Hinata…"
.
.
.
He knew that this late-night from Yakushi Kabuto was inevitable. After all, he messed up on his duty big time. The Mist nearly claimed the life of Hyuuga Hinata, one of the two toys of the devil serpent. And as the gardener, it was his duty to keep her safe until the day that the devil serpent decides to play with her already.
After all, she represented the two generations that sealed him.
The clan princess.
So when Kabuto materialized behind him and told him cheerfully that he blew his last chance a kiss goodbye, he already understood one thing.
His one foot was already in the grave.
Again.
But this time, he was not going to stand around uselessly, a weakling watching events happen around him.
Not this time, when he realized that his greatest fight had commenced.
His fight to protect the one he cherishes the most.
It only took him two heather blooms for him to realize that his father was right. As he pocketed the violet and white heather blooms, he found himself thinking of his father again.
All these times that he thought of his father's sacrifices as in vain, he finally understood his big mistake.
Because he knew that what he was about to do was one big stupidity.
But if only for the water lily…if only for her…
It wasn't everyday that he was given a chance to die protecting the one he values the most.
It wasn't anymore a duty. It was privilege.
.
.
.
"Aburame Shino-san?" she asked. He turned to her, startled.
"Y-You were looking for something?" she asked, forehead creased.
"Yes. I was looking for you." He pulled her into the stable. "Listen, Lady Hinata, I'm leaving the Leaf kingdom soon. My life is in danger."
"L-Lady Hinata?" The girl's eyes widened. "Y-You know about—"
"It's irrelevant." He exhaled audibly. "The Starlets will soon know about me because I acted too slowly and too uncertainly."
"A-Acted?"
He sat down, defeated. "I'm a spy, Lady Hinata. I was tasked to look after you and make sure that you're safe, because someone needs you for his plans. As a successor of the Byakugan, you will become helpful to him."
"H-Him who?"
But the gardener shook his head. "My services were terminated after I messed up with my duty. Your life was endangered in the Mist kingdom, and for that I cannot be trusted anymore. On the other hand, Leaf is starting to get suspicious of me. Either my allies now or your kingdom will kill me."
"S-So you have nowhere to go…" Hinata's eyes widened. "Shino-kun…"
"I cannot look out for you anymore, but I am not worried. Uzumaki Naruto, I believe, is a capable fighter. He can take care of you." Shino's face relaxed. "I'm sorry, Lady Hinata. You were very kind to me, and had we met sooner, I would never agree to this."
Hinata shook her head vehemently. "Shino-kun, never once did I doubt you, and I will not start now. I can feel that you are a good person…and a good friend too."
"Thank you," he smiled gently, for the first time since she met him. "You deserve something much better than this."
"H-Huh?"
He gazed at her intently. "You don't deserve to be involved in the war of the kingdoms. I wish I can bring you with me, but it will only endanger your life more. Everyone is after me."
"Then stay, Shino-kun," she said.
He shook his head firmly, and then showed her his clenched fists. "Look, and choose. Either one inside my hand, I will offer to you as my birthday gift for your birthday."
"E-Eh?" She looked hesitant, but the look on his face made her obey him. She chose the right hand.
He unclenched his fist, showing a small delicate white heather. He placed it on her hand. "White heather is said to make wishes come true, but it can also mean protection from harm. Thus, from now on, you will have me as your knight, for as long as you want me to."
"S-Shino…kun…"
He kept the other bloom in his pocket. "And I will keep this other flower, and maybe, I can give this someday."
"What's the other flower?" she asked, curious.
It was a lavender heather, and it meant admiration.
But she didn't need to know that anyway. It was a little secret he knew that he would take even to his grave.
He wasn't able to do his duty well as a spy, because his emotions he thought he had forgotten had resurfaced when he met Hyuuga Hinata.
"Goodbye, Lady Hinata," he bade quietly, stepping away.
"Shino-kun, where do you plan to go now?" she asked worriedly. "A-And please…please be alright…" Her eyes widened when he suddenly stepped towards her, closing their gap. His arms reached for her and hugged her tightly.
"Where you are, Lady Hinata. You won't see me, but I am there. I have decided that if I shall die, I shall do so protecting someone…" Someone dear to me.
He shook his head, and then loosened his hold. "The flowers in the garden…""I'll take care of them for you!" said the maid quickly.
"In spring, they shall bloom beautifully," he promised her softly. He gazed at her in longing for one last time, and then walked away. He knew it would take time before he would be able to see her again, and perhaps he may never do so anymore. But as long as he lived, he knew he would keep on trying to come back to Hidden Leaf kingdom.
If only to look after the Princess Hinata.
If only for her.
.
.
.
Shino felt himself return to the present when petals of scented flowers danced with the breeze. He turned to Tsunade, who respected his silence with her own, letting him reflect in his own small eternity.
He slowly smiled. "I never really cared…until I met her." His father was right: life was more than what we are.
It is what we live for.
Her eyes smiled. "The heart of the gardener was doomed to melt after all..."
…………………….
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syao-chan
…………….
Tagalog omake
Guys, this is only for those who can read and understand Tagalog. I'm still thinking if I should make translations. For the meantime, fellow Pinoys, enjoy sana jau!
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[itim na screen]
Syao-chan ReProductions presents…
A film by Kodak films
Directed by Bb. Syao Chan K.Y.U.T
---------------------------------
Hyuuga Neji Sandamakmak na Extras
Tenten Da Sarapen Voice-over a.k.a. Ako
"Chicharong Bulaklak"
Act I of II
Tenten: Ang buhay ng tao ay tunay na mahiwaga…minsan may mga bagay na nde kelangang malaman pero nalalaman…meron namang mga dapat malaman pero ang tagal bago naman nalaman. Ang tawag dun ay kabobohan. Pero di bale, nde ko na problema yun. Basta ako, may sarili akong buhay.
Ako nga pala c Tenecita Teneciente Da Sarapen. Tenten n lng, kung alangan kau sa binasbas na pangalan sa akin. Nag-iisa na ako sa buhay buhat nang aking ina ay nanlalaki at ang aking ama ay nanlalaki din. Wala na akong ibang aasahan kundi tatlong tao: me, myself, and I.
Sinusportahan ko ang sarili ko sa pamamagitan ng paglalako. Papaya sa umaga, bibingka sa gabi. Pero pinakamabenta sa akin ang nagmamantikang kasalanan na tinatawag nating chicharong bulaklak. Sabi nila, ang bulaklak ko ang pinakamalutong sa buong bayan ng Konoha. Hahanap-hanapin kumbaga. Sa pamamagitan nito ay nagawa kong makapagpatayo ng abang kubo na may Olympic-size swimming pool sa loob. Masaya na sana ang buhay ko at ala na akong ibang mahihiling pa, pero naganap isang araw ang pangyayaring makakapagbago ng lahat-lahat.
(eksena sa babuyan)
Tenten: (shocked) ANO?! Namatay lahat ng mga baboy na pagkukunan ng chicharong bulaklak ko?!!
Lee: (lugong-lugo) Ikinalulungkot ko, Tenten. Malay ba naming kaya naubos ang mga pinamudmod naming Racumin sa bukid eh dahil inubos ng mga masisibang baboy na yun? Alam ko eto lang ang kinukunan mo ng hanapbuhay…
Tenten: Paano nyan? Hinuhulugan ko yung kubo ko sa bumbay. Pag nde ako nakapagbayad, iilitin nya ang nag-iisang tahanan ko!
Lee: Teka, alam ko na. May pwede ka pang pagkunan ng pang-chicharon mo. Mayaman yun, so cguradong pagbibigyan ka.
Tenten: Ikaw kc eh, sukat ba naming ipangpa-rebond mo lahat ng binayad ko para sa baboy mo eh…
Lee: At least sunod sa galaw cya ngaun di ba?
Tenten: Yeah…in fairness…
Lee: Eto, puntahan mo cya ngaun. Yan ang address nya. Eto naman cel. number nya; wag mo ipagkalat, ha?
Ako: Nagmamadaling pumunta ang dalaga sa address na nakalagay sa papel kc ala cyang load. Ngunit nang patawid nya cya ay…
(isang rumaragasang Pajero ang bumangga sa katawan ng babae, making her lose her balance. Nahampas ang rear nya sa kalsada at may naupuan cyang metal spike. Cnubukan nyang tumayo ngunit nauntog ang ulo nya sa bumper ng kotse. Napahiga cya sa daan nang nde oras)
May lumabas mula sa driver's seat.
Lalaki: Cyet! Napawisan ang headlights ko!
Tenten: Anak ng butete…salamat sa concern! (pilit na tumayo) Kala mo sa iyo ang kalsada kung magpatakbo ka ah!
Lalaki: Harang-harang ka kc eh.
Tenten: (uminit ang ulo) Ako pa ang may sala! Hoy, nde porke Pajero yan ay pwede ka nang magmataas! I bet smuggled lng ang parts nyan eh!
Lalaki: Paki mo?
Tenten: E di tama nga ako no?
Lalaki: (face dark) …
Tenten: Mabuti pa, tigilan na natin ang walang katuturang ututang-dila na ito dahil may hinahabol ako. Itabi mo na nga yang pajero mong pirated at naalibadbaran ako!
Lalaki: Sandali. Bayaran mo muna yang ginawa mong damage sa headlights ko.
Tenten: Teka nga, nde ba covered ng insurance yan? (slaps forehead) Oo nga pla, smuggled yan, natural ala nun.
Lalaki: Namumuro ka na ah… (looks at watch) Fota…
Tenten: Hoooy, kung ikaw nasasayang ang oras e di mas ako! Kayo talagang mga lalake, puro pasakit ang dala nyo sa buhay! Sana naging babae na lng c Noah! Sana naging bakla na lng c Adan! Punyeta!
Lalaki: Para sa isang babae, masyadong bulgar ka.
Tenten: Alangan naming magpaka-timtimang birhen ako eh muntik mo nang wasakin ang tadyang ko! Pasalamat ka lang at ala ako sa mood na pumatay ngaun. (shoves the lalaki away) Tabi!
Lalaki: (grabs her arm) Oi, babae…
Tenten: (turns around, eyebrows arched) Anong kelangan mo, lalaki? Tsaka hands off please!
(He smirked, and then cupped her face and gave her a sudden hard kiss on the mouth)
Lalaki: (Pulls away just as suddenly) Colgate.
Tenten: (face red) Shit ka, alam mo un?
Lalaki: (shrugs) Bayad ka na dun sa damage ng headlights ko. (enters the car and drives away)
Tenten: Bastos! Walang modo! Akala mo kung cno manghalik eh mas masarap pang sumipsip ng kamyas kesa makipag-torrid sa kanya! May araw ka den!!! (looks up at the late afternoon sky slowly being replaced by the night sky) BUKAS!!!
Ako: Samantala, dumating na sa wakas c Hyuuga Neji sa kanyang destinasyon.
Hinata: (twirls her wedding gown with her hand) K-Kuya Neji, sa wakas dumating ka na rin. Salamat at masisimulan na ang seremonya.
Neji: Kanina ka pa?
Naruto: (fixes his bow uncomfortably) Eight hours pa lang kami andito, KUYA.
Neji: Pakyu, sabi nang wag mo kong tatawagin nyan.
Naruto: Why don't you just receive the truth with spring insides?
Neji: …
Hinata: Sabi nya po, tanggapin nyo na lang ang katotohanan ng bukal sa loob. (nn)
Neji: Nde ako mangingiming ilakad ka sa altar kung ang pagbibigyan ko sa iyo eh yung pwede namang pagkamalang tao.
Hinata: Kuya Neji naman…
Kakashi: (stands up from the flower boys' aisle) Pwede na bang simulan ang kasal? Panis na yung handa sa reception eh.
Lahat: Game na!
Ako: Samantala uli, sa tahanan ng uutangan ni Tenten ng baboy…
Tenten: (stares at the abandoned house) Niloko ata ako nung kapal kilay na yun ah…
Lalaki 2: Alang tao jan!
Tenten: Nde nga.
Lalaki 2: Nasa kasal cla eh. Kung mahalaga yung sasabihin mo, puntahan mo na lang. (gives address)
Tenten: {smiles gratefully) Salamat. Cge, tuloy na ako.
Lalaki 2: Hep, hep. Bayad muna. Binigyan kta ng impormasyon kaya kelangan mo ko I-compensate.
Tenten: Anak ng tikbalang… (tries to move away but her shadow is controlled by the Lalaki 2)
Lalaki 2: Well…?
Tenten: Utang muna, pede? Pag nakabili na ako ng chicharon ko bibigyan kta ng isang bilao.
Lalaki 2: (considers for a while, then nods) Pwede na…
Ako: And off went Tenten to the kasal. Nde na cya nagbihis dhil nagmamdali cya. Back to Neji…
Pari: Do you, Hyuuga Hinata, take this man as your lawfully wedded husband for richer or poorer, through thick and thin, till death do you part?
Hinata: (eyes shining) I do, Father.
Pari: Ikaw, Uzumaki Naruto, trip mo cya?
Naruto: Op kors!
Pari: O game, kasal na kau. Inuman na!
Neji: San nyo pinulot yang pari na yan? Parang reject ng karnabal ah. (eyes the priest who is cheerfully talking with the flower girls and bridesmaids)
Ako: Sa wakas ay dumating na c Tenten. Napabuntung-hininga ang dalaga. Pano nya hahanapin yung Mr. Hyuuga Neji eh ang daming tao? She didn't ponder on that too long kc bigla na lng nagsigawan yung mga babae. Yun pala ay throw the bouquet ceremony na. She decided to watch na rin.
Hinata: One…two…THREE! (sabay bato sa pumpon ng rosas)
Kababaihan: AKIN YAN!!!
(nagpahagis-hagis ang bouquet habang nagsasapakan ang mga babae para sa bulaklak. Tunay ngang mahirap na ang sitwasyong ngaung 3:1 na ang ratio ng lalaki sa babae… nde pa binilang dun ang mga binabae.)
Ako: Ngunit may sariling isip ang bouquet dahil nahagis ito sa paanan ni Neji na kalmadong umiinom ng Emperador Brandy.
Neji: Hmm? Bulaklak? Bakit andito? (sabay pulot)
Naruto: Oi, asan na yung bulaklak?
Neji: (waves arm) Andito. Anak ng…ang mamahal ng bulaklak ngaun tapos tinatapon-tapon nyo lng! Sayang…
Everyone: 0.o
Hinata: N-Naku…pano ba yan…c Kuya Neji ang nakakuha…
Naruto: Ahh…kwan…gawin na rin natin ang tradisyon… (looks at the male crowd na sabay-sabay dumilim ang mukha) Ahh…s-sino gustong lagyan ng garter c Kuya? (turns to the man in the corner) Sasuke?
Sasuke: Madapaking hell…
Tenten: (sabay tayo) Teka, konting paliwanagan nga. Yan ba c Hyuuga Neji?
Naruto: (kamot ulo) Yah… nung huli kong cyang tinanong, oo.
Tenten: OK, fine. Akina yung garter.
Everyone: o.0
Ako: Maya-maya ay nakaupo na c Neji sa gitna ng kasayahan, c Tenten nakaluhod sa harap nya. She was holding the garter already, as well as a mocking smile on her face.
Tenten: O, we meet again, Mayabang na Dikya.
Neji: Dikya?
Tenten: I'm referring to your kissing jutsu.
Neji: Fota…
Tenten: OK, cmulan na natin ang seremonyas. (looks at his pants) So pano gagawin natin? Pataas ang hila mo sa slacks o huhubarin mo na lng pababa? (receives a lethal glare) What? Nagtatanong lng eh.
Neji: (quietly lifts the hem of his pants up)
Crowd: Higher, higher!
Tenten: Rinig mo? Higher daw.
Neji: At susundin mo naman?
Tenten: Cyempre naman. The voice of the people is the voice of God. (sabay taas sa hem)
Neji: (fists clench) Pwede na jan…
Tenten: Nde ko pa nga nararating ang tuhod mo eh. Garter to, nde anklet, bobo. (pulls garter higher)
Neji: (nakaramdam ng banayad na kiliti sa binti) Tama na….
Tenten: Bakit ba takot na takot kang ma-expose binti mo? May varicose veins ka ba? Tatlo ba paa mo?
Neji: Ang ingay mo.
Tenten: (lifts the hem some more) Aba…na-iinsecure ata ako…mas maganda pa korte ng binti mo s akin ah.
Neji: Isa pang kagaguhang mamumutawi s iyo at papatulan na kita.
Tenten: (mockingly) Wag! Baka pumayag ako. (secures the garter) Okies, yan na!
(crowd erupts in applause and cheers. Nag-bow c Tenten)
Neji: (walks her away from the line of vision of the guests) Ano ba kelangan mo at sumulpot ka dito?
Tenten: Hinahanap ko c Hyuuga Neji.
Neji: (smirks) I knew it. Na-adik ka sa kissing no jutsu ko?
Tenten: Sana, kaso nde ako mahilig sa seafoods. (smiles sweetly) And2 ako kc sabi ng friend ko, may babuyan ka daw.
Neji: Watch your tongue, lady. Disente ako at ang pamilya ko kaya—
Tenten: Sinabi ko bang nde? Ang sabi ko, baka nag-aalaga ka ng baboy, kc kelangan ko yan sa business ko. Gumagawa kc ako ng chicharong bulaklak. (makes paliwanag her dilemma)
Neji: (pagkatapos marinig ang kwento) At tingin mo naman ay tutulungan kita?
Tenten: Bakit nde? Isang tingin pa lang sa iyo, matatatwa na agad ninuman na ikaw ay maginoong lalaki, mabuting mamamayan, mapagmahal sa pamilya, masunuring anak, may ginintuang puso sa mga sawimpalad at sawing-chicharon…
Neji: Wala ng libre sa mundo ngaun.
Tenten: Babayaran ko din naman pag nabenta ko ang mga bulaklak ko eh.
Neji: Masarap ba ang bulaklak mo?
Tenten: Malutong na malutong!
Neji: Cge, pag-iisipan ko.
Tenten: Naman eeeh, ma-iilit na ang bahay ko at lahat eh—
Neji: Take it or leave it.
Tenten: Sabi ko nga, macyado k kcng nagmamadali eh may mga bagay-bagay na dapat pinag-iisipan eh…
…………………………
Makukuha kaya ni Tenten ang kanyang inaasam-asam na chicharon mula kay Neji? Ano ang kabayarang hihingin ni Neji mula sa kanya?
[Itutuloy…]
[itim na screen uli; ending song plays]
[ Pasasalamat ]
Sa lahat ng mga Pinoy na nagbabasa ngaun nito…dacal pung salamat. Tanong nyo na lng kay Mark Lapid kung ano ang ibig sabihin nun. nn
[ending song ceases]
………………………………….
[itim na screen]
[Queng mangutang kung ninu ing Mark Lapid, yamu ing gobernador namin king probinsya mi. Yamu ring dating BF ning Kris Aquino. Translated, dun sa nagtatanong kung sino c Mark lapid, siya yung gobernador namin sa probinsya namin. Siya rin ang dating BF ni Kris Aquino]
[April Ann, 1 hr away kami sa San Fernando. Arayat kc me :D Ikaw,nokarin ka makatuknang? (Mejo nde me sanay sa Kapampangan pasencya na kung may mali sa spelling ko.]
[opening song plays: Itsumo by Dice and K9]
Act II of II : Chicharong Bulaklak
Rated B by the MTRCB : B as in Baboy na Bacon na Baon ni Bunso sa Bus. Yun na Yun.
……………………………….
Ako: Nakaraan sa Chicharong Flower… nagkita na sa wakas ang dalawang bida sa ating dula. Nde masyadong naging mapayapa ang una nilang pagkikita, pero ala nang mapagpipilian c Tenten kundi maki-ride sa kakaibang ugali ni Neji. Ngaun ating makikita kung anong klaseng salamangka ang nagagawa ng pag-ibig, hahamakin ang lahat kahit c Dao Ming Si.
………………………………
Tenten: Uuwi na ako. Gabi na pala, manonood pa akong Marinara.
Neji: …
Tenten: [clears throat] Neji, irog, uuwi na ako.
Neji: Bakit mo sinasabi sa akin? Wala naman sa akin ang pamasahe mo.
Tenten: [looks pointedly at his Pajero]
Neji: [vein pops in his head] Anak ng…mukha bang pampaserhong jeep ang tsikot ko?
Tenten: Mejo nde kc walking distance ang pinanggalingan ko eh. Kaya lng ako nakarating dito kc may Adrenalin Rush ako. Eh ngaun, pagod na ako.
Neji: Pati ba naman yun papaproblema mo pa sa akin? Ngaun pa lang tau nagkita, kaya wag kang umasta na parang close tau.
Tenten: Namaaan, NAMAAAAN! Nde ka gentleman pramis! [crosses arms in front of her chest] Paano kung habang naglalakad ako pauwi ay may humarang sa akin na masasamang loob at tangkain akong halayin?
Neji: E di tumakbo ka. Wag mo sabihing papahalay ka naman?
Tenten: Ano ka, ang tagal kong binuro ang puri ko basta ko na lang ibibigay?
Neji: Yun naman pla eh.
Tenten: E di para nde na ako tumakbo kc eh…
Neji: Papahalay ka na lang?
Tenten: ANO BA?!! Ibig kong sabihin, mo idaan mo n lng kc ako sa bahay. Nde naman ako papahatid sa kabilang buhay, jan lang naman sa kabilang bayan.
Neji: Pagkatapos mo akong ipahiya sa harap ng publiko, tingin mo tutulungan kita?
Tenten: Masyado ka naming maramdamin. Masama ang nagtatanim ng sama ng loob sa kapwa, napopolusyon ang hangin kapag sumosobra ang sama ng loob…
Neji: Anak ng…sumakay ka na nga. Inuubos mo ang hangin dito sa walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay.
Ako: Ngunit nde natigil ang kanilang umaatikabong verbal battle sa loob ng kotse…
Neji: [opens radio and listens to AM station]
Tenten: [Napakunot-noo; inilipat sa FM. Pumailanlang ang "Jumbo hotdog, kaya mo ba to…"]
Neji: [Nagulantang sa lyrics na mas explicit pa sa Eminem; inilipat sa news commentary. Pumailanlang ang headline: Dalawang babaeng pilay, naghabulan. Isa ang natadyakan PATAY!!!]
Tenten: Ano ka ba, napaka-morbid mo naman! Bakit gusto mong nakikinig ng mga karumal-dumal na mga balita? [Inilipat uli sa FM, pumailanlang naman ang tinig ni DJ Alvaro. "Ako'y napapa-ooh…ako'y napapa-ah…"]
Neji: Kaysa sa iyo naman na mahilig sa kamunduhan na mga lyrics. [Binalik uli sa programa ni Mike Enriquez. May flash report na dinating: Tatlong pulis, nadapa. PATAY!!!]
Tenten: Mabuti na ang manyak kesa sa isip-psycho killer. At least ako mamamatay ng maligaya [naughty grin]
Neji: Grabe tlaga ang pagiging taklesa mo. [looks at the road] Malayo pa ba?
Tenten: [looks outside the window] Oo. Pero kung ii-start mo na yung makina ng kotse kesa nakikipag-away sa radio station, e di sana nde na malayo.
Ako: Sa wakas ay narating na nila ang tahanan ni Tenten…
Neji: Apartment 1 Road 2 Block 3 Lot 4 567 Village Project 8 road. Eto na ang bahay mo. [nilingon c Tenten na nakatulog na, leaning against the car door. Her knees were tucked underneath her chin na tila gininaw sa aircon. Despite himself, he could feel a small smile of fondness appear on his face. She was pretty, especially when her earthy mouth was clamped shut.]
Ako: For quite a while, nakatitig lng c Neji sa kanya, fascinated by the beauty assaulting his senses na he thought was manhid na. His eyes turned to her legs—they were long, almost endless, and flawless at that. He gulped inwardly, and his gaze returned to her unconscious face. Her mouth was slightly parted, and he could feel the insistent urge to claim them again. Nanikip bigla ang crotch ng kanyang pants. Ngunit biglang nag-iba ang song sa FM station—harana courtesy of Linkin Park. Nabulahaw ang dalaga.
Tenten: [pumupungas-pungas] Peter Parker, asan ka na? Nde pa natin tapos akyatin ang matarik na bundok ng kaligayahan--[luminga sa paligid] E-Eh?? Neji!
Neji: Hmp. Mukha ba akong Gagamboy? [turns his eyes outside the car window] Andito na tau.
Tenten: Cge, salamat. Mauna na ako, Neji.
Neji: [rolls eyes] Bakit, nakikipaghabulan ba ako?
Tenten: Nde na kita pagkakapehin, ala akong kape.
Neji: Anong meron ka?
Tenten: Gatas. Masustansyang gatas.
Neji: May lactose digestion problem ako.
Tenten: Tough. [lumabas ng car] Yung tungkol sa mga chicharon…
Neji: Pag-iisipan ko.
Tenten: [steps out of the car and turns her attention to the house. Laking gulat nya nang matanawan ang kubo nya na nasusunog, sa harap nito ay ang bumbay na kinautangan nya, may dalang sulo at humahalakhak na parang tinakasan ng katinuan.] CYET!
Neji: [napamaang] A-Anong…
Tenten: [tinakbo ang bahay] NDE KO NADILIGAN YUNG MGA TANIM KONG PAPAYA!!! [fretfully runs past her burning kubo and checks on her plants. She smiled in relief nang nakita nyang buhay pa ang mga iyon] Whew! Akala ko may masama nang nangyari…
Neji: [Nilapitan ang bumbay] Ikaw ba ang sumunog ng bahay nya?
Bumbay: Oo, bakeeeet? Ang tagal na nyang nde nagbabayad sa akin kaya tama lang ito! Wakekeke!
Neji: Gano na ba katagal?
Bumbay: Fifteen minutes ago. Wakekekeke!
Neji: [looks at Tenten na nakatulala sa harap ng abo nang bahay na parang ngaun lang napagtanto ang nangyari sa kubo nya] Ganun ba… [tumalikod, tapos biglang hinarap c Bumbay at inundayan ng sapak]
Bumbay: [natumba sa lupa] Sakit nun ah! Wakekekeke!
Neji: [nilapitan c Tenten] Tenten…?
Tenten: [eyes shaking] Wala na akong…bahay…
Neji: [looks away, wondering what to say. Naisip nya na mang-ecourage na lng] M-May konting plywood pa naming natira…
Tenten: [namuo ang mga luha sa mga mata] Ang dream house ko…
Neji: B-Baka maayos pa natin. Sandali, kukuha ako ng martilyo at pako.
Tenten: [shakes her head sadly] Nde…beyond repair na ito. [pumunta sa garden nya at nagsimulang I-uproot ang mga halaman nya]
Neji: [follows her] Ano ang ginagawa mo?
Tenten: Nagbabalot ng natitirang ari-arian. Hahanap ako ng pwedeng matutuluyan habang nde ko pa nahahanap ang susunod kong bahay. [starts to place the hollow blocks of her kubo in her bag] Baka magamit ko to sa pagbabagong-buhay…
Neji: K-Kung ala kang matutuluyan..dun ka muna sa bahay namin.
Tenten: ?
Neji: Kwan…kung hinatid kta ng mas maaga kesa nakipag-away sa radyo, nakapagbayad ka sana sa bumbay…
Tenten: D-Di yata't nagsisisi ka?
Neji: [namula] S-Syempre hinde! Sinabi ko lng kc…sinabi ko lng. Yun lng…
Tenten: Pero baka maging pabigat lng ako.
Neji: [natauhan] Alam ko. Hayaan mo na. Kalimutan mo na ang sinabi ko.
Tenten: Hayuup ka! Nagpa-cute lng ako ng konti kumambyo ka naman! Alang bawiannn!!!
Ako: Kaya sa bandang huli, Neji found himself a new boarder sa mansyon nya.
Neji: Eto ang munti kong tahanan. Galing pa ito sa kanunu-nunuan ko.
Tenten: Wow, kala ko Megamall. [looks at the escalator] San papunta yan, e bungalow ang bahay mo?
Neji: Ewan ko ba dun sa gumawa. Business tycoon lng ako, nde arkitekto.
Tenten: Kunsabagay…
Neji: Feel at home, Tenten.
Tenten: Alam mo, nde pa rin ako makapaniwalang inampon mo ako.
Neji: [rolls eyes] Ako rin.
Tenten: Salamat talaga ha? Di bale, susuklian ko din ang kabutihan mo pagdating ng panahon.
Hinata: [arrives sa sala] K-Kuya Neji? Sa wakas at bumalik ka na—eh?? [gapes at Tenten] Ikaw ang nasa kasal namin kanina, nde po ba?
Tenten: Shucks. You forgot me not pla! Tats ako.
Hinata: Opo naman. [bows] Salamat po sa paglagay mo ng garter kay Kuya Neji. Wala kcng gagawa nun eh…
Tenten: Tingin ko rin. [smirks at Neji, na gumulong muli ang mga mata heavenwards]
Naruto: Hon, mabula na ung bathtub kaso nde ko makita yung ginseng—[natigilan] Aba! Kuya Neji! Bkit ka andito?
Neji: Bahay ko kaya kc ito. Ituloy mo ung cnasabi mo kanina kay Hinata.
Hinata: [blushes hotly] K-Kuya namaan…
Naruto: [smirks] Baka maingget k lng, wag na!
Neji: [face dark]
Naruto: [notices Tenten watching them with much, much amusement] Hmm? Ikaw ung kanina sa kasal namin, ryt? [holds out his hand] Uzumaki Naruto at your service station.
Tenten: [napangiti] Tenecita Teneciete de Sarapen here. Tenten n lng. Naghahanap ka ata ng ginseng?
Naruto: [winks] Gusto kong ginseng-scented na bath. [squeezes Hinata's hand affectionately, na parang nilamon na ng pula ang mukha] Para gumanda ang pakiramdam ng Honey ko.
Neji: Grr…Naruto, tandaan mo to. Cmula ng namatay ang Uncle Hiashi, ako na ang may responsibilidad kay Hinata. Wag kang gagawa ng makakapagpagalit sa akin at sa angkan ng Hyuuga, tandaan mo yan.
Naruto: Eto naman ang tandaan mo, Kuya. Nang isumpa ko sa harap ng buong angkan nyo na c Hinata ang nag-iisang babaeng pagbibigyan ko ng puso at kaluluwa ko, seryoso ako dun. Wala akong gagawin na masasaktan ang babaeng pinakamamahal ko sa buong sandaigdigan! [grins] Honey, tara, may ginseng baby oil naman cguro c Kuya. Hiramin na lng naten… [hugs her] Ligo na tau…
Hinata: [pulang-pula na] N-Naruto…kinakabahan ako…eto ang unang beses na gagawin ko ito…
Naruto: Alin, ung mag-shower? [winks] Kasama mo naman ako, wag kang matakot—aray!!! [rubs the punched cheek that Neji slammed just seconds ago] Waa! Bakeeet ba???
Neji: Grr…[mukhang maraming gusting sabihin, pero nde alam kung pano sisimulan] yang pinsan ko…ingatan mo…
Tenten: Neji, paalisin mo na cla. Mag-asawa na yang mga yan. Ano ba s tingin mo ang gagawin pa nila magdamag eh honey moon nila? Ano cla, magtititigan?
Neji: Grrr…
Tenten: Cge na, humayo na kayo at magparami.
Naruto: [beams] Purihin ka! [makes hila na his blushing virgin wife papunta sa bathroom]
Neji: Gah… [naupo sa sofa, tila tumanda bigla]
Tenten: [tinabihan ang lalaki sa upuan] Ikaw naman, daig mo pa ang tinalikdan ng buwanang dalaw. Dapat mong tanggapin na nagbabago ang lahat. May sarili nang buhay na ang pinsan mo, kaya hayaan mo na cya.
Neji: Nde mo alam ang pakiramdam. Cya at ako na lng ang nabubuhay sa angkan namin…
Tenten: The more na dapat pabayaan mo na yung pinsan mo…para dumami ang angkan nyo uli. [receives lethal glare] Eto naman o… para kang matandang dalaga…
Neji: Kumain na lng tayo. [looks at her]
Tenten: [laughs nervously] Oi, thankful ako at pinatira mo ako dito, pero nde ako ganun ka-thankful para isuko ko ang aking puri no!
Neji: Idiot. Ang ibig kong sabihin, magluto ka na.
Tenten: Ha??? Bahkeeet???
Neji: Ikaw na rin ang may sabi, gusto mong gumanti sa kabutihang-loob ko. Simulan mo na sa pamamagitan ng pagluluto.
Tenten: Madapaking hell naman oh…daig mo pa ang nag-recruit ng katulong ah!
Neji: Kesa dumakdak ka jan, ipagluto mo na ako.
Tenten: Kapal to the infinity level ka, pare! [gets up] Cge na nga! Kuuu…pasalamat ka at marunong akong tumanaw ng utang na loob… [heads for the kitchen]
Neji: [leans on the sofa, planning to take a nap before dinner, kaso biglang nagising nang may narinig na sunod-sunod na kalabog sa pinto ng bathroom] Cyet ka Naruto ka…
……………………………………………….
Mula sa nangungutang ng baboy, naging panibagong kasambahay na c Tenten sa tahanan ni Hyuuga Neji. Ano ang maaaring mga maganap sa mansion ng mga Hyuuga? At bakit ang lakas ng kalabog sa pinto ng banyo nina Naruto? Ano ang ulam na niluto ni Tenten naman? Masarapan naman kaya si Neji?
Eto at iba pang mga nagbabagang tanong ang sasagutin sa susunod na umaatikabong kabanata ng…Chicharong Flower.
[ending song plays]
